Inspired

I had the honor and privilege to attend the National Association of Professional Women’s Annual Conference in New York on Friday. It was by far, the best training event I have ever attended. The keynote speakers and panelists were not only successful, intelligent and inspiring, but also down to earth. Arianna Huffington, Martha Stewart, Star Jones, Desirée Rogers, Sara Blakely, along with others gave it to us straight.

Here are just a few of the fabulous take-aways:

1. Arianna Huffington shared how important it is for Corporate America to take care of their employees. Individuals will actually produce higher quality work, generate better ideas and be more efficient if they are happy, healthy and well rested. It is for this reason Arianna had two nap rooms built for her employees, a place for “siesta” and she is in the process of adding a third nap room. Just twenty minutes of rest can rejuvenate the body and mind.
2. I was most impacted by Lesley Jane Seymour’s admission, “Ladies, we can’t have it all.” Star added to that by sharing the concept of juggling, at least one ball is always in the air! We can only divide our attention in so many pieces, so choose your priorities, focus and manage your priorities and let the others go. Don’t apologize, simply explain. Somebody brought up cookies for her child’s school project. She didn’t have time to bake dozens because she has chosen to have a career, but she bought 15 varieties of the bakery’s finest!  I loved Lesley’s point, “Children just want a happy mom.”
3. Ladies, stop beating around the bush and just straight out ask! I am so guilty of this one. As women we tend to open with, “If you have time, If you don’t mind, Could you perhaps—and so on.” A studied was shared where a man got on the subway and asked for somebody’s seat. 70% of the time he got the seat without a single question. Amazing! If you need somebody’s time, support or opinion, simply ask. You have nothing to lose and it’s okay to hear, “no.” Don’t take “no” personally!  Odds are the other person feels bad for having to say no! I love this one!
4. Take care of your body through exercise and healthy eating. I was shocked to learn one in every three women die of heart disease. Star Jones is an open-heart surgery survivor now advocating for the cause. One of the panelists mentioned how important it is for women to change the ways of Corporate America as we climb the ladder, rather than adapting to the broken ways that honestly don’t work for men either. Supporting Arianna’s point, the human body and mind need to be well rested, appropriately fueled and maintained to work at maximum capacity. I think it’s important to encourage a healthier life style and what better quality time with your children than a game of soccer, a jog through the woods or mountain biking?

In Arianna’s words, “Success is balance.”